Voting Station

Hugh Thompson, Jr.

Please vote to return to collections.

Hero

The Resume

    (April 15, 1943-January 6, 2006)
    Born in Atlanta, Georgia
    Helicopter pilot who intervened to save civilians from slaughter during the Vietnam War's My Lai Massacre (March 16, 1968)
    Received the Distinguished Flying Cross medal (discarded), the Soldier's Medal and the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award
    Died of cancer at a Veterans Medical Center in Alexandria, LA at age 62
    'Song for Hugh Thompson' written and recorded by folk singer David Rovics in 1998

Why he might be annoying:

    After serving in the U.S. Navy between 1961-64, he opened a funeral home, but two years of burying dead people was all he could stand and he enlisted in the U.S. Army.
    Disobeying orders, he put the lives of his two crew members in peril.
    South Carolina Congressmen Mendel Rivers wanted him court-martialed for turning his helicopter guns on U.S. soldiers, but his attempt wasn't successful.
    Though eligible for burial at Arlington National Cemetary, he chose to be buried close to the LA VA hospital where he died.

Why he might not be annoying:

    Flying his copter between fleeing civilians and Lt. William Calley's advancing troops he told his crew, 'Y'all cover me! If these bastards open up on me or these people, you open up on them. Promise me!'
    This action saved at least 10 unarmed women and children.
    He also found a boy alive amongst a pile of 100 bodies and evacuated him to a hospital.
    A cover-up of the event came swiftly and when he was given a medal along with a phony story of fabricated events he threw it in the trash.
    Some felt his actions against fellow soldiers were wrong and he received hate mail, mutilated animals on his doorstep and death threats.
    His relentless pursuit of the truth finally got top ranking officials to admit 'mistakes were made,' though the only soldier who did any time was Calley (3½ years of house arrest).
    He went with crewman Lawrence Colburn to My Lai on the 30th anniversary of the massacre, met with two women whom he helped save and dedicated a new elementary school for the village.
    In 2004, he went on 60 Minutes and stated of the troops responsible for the slaughter, 'I wish I was a big enough man to say I forgive them, but I swear to God, I can't.'

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 102 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 24 Votes: 45.83% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 178 Votes: 67.98% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 145 Votes: 66.21% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 106 Votes: 35.85% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 591 Votes: 35.36% Annoying